Chapter 48: Gulp Gulp Gulp Gulp Gulp

　　Three months later, above the Crystal Palace deep in the East Ocean…

　　After a series of matters—the young dragon rebelling, his mother pleading for him, and his father ordering a thorough investigation—a fish spirit, who was a musician teaching the prince in the ocean, became a scapegoat. The fish spirit had been cut into pieces on the spot and put between scallions, ginger, vinegar, and garlic…

　　It was unfortunate and lamentable.

　　During the Primordial Times, there was no wasabi, and the way of sashimi had yet to be perfected.

　　Presently, the Second Prince of the Dragon Palace, Ao Yi, was tied to a huge immortal cowrie ship, which was speeding to the border between the South Ocean and the East Ocean.

　　Besides Ao Yi, there were only a few flood dragon troops and a Turtle Immortal with white eyebrows and beard on the ship.

　　This Turtle Immortal, who had retired a long time ago, sat beside Ao Yi and was trying to persuade him with deep sighs.

　　“Your Majesty, how did you get involved with the tiny Immortal Du Sect?

　　“What virtues and capabilities do they have? Even if His Majesty let you become a disciple there, he would not dare to take you in either.

　　“You have to think of His Majesty too. He is now holding his ground amid the opinions of the masses, and suppressing all the voices so that you can go and become a disciple of a Saint!

　　“This time, I will take you to become a disciple under the great immortal of the Three Saints of that Dao Sect, the Black Cloud Immortal.

　　“Although this great immortal does not have a high reputation, he is ranked first among the seven immortals in the Jie School and is thought highly of by the Three Saints of the Dao Sect. He only has one golden turtle, who comes from the same race as me, as his disciple. Back then, we had some friendly relations too.

　　“Your Majesty, this is going according to your wishes.

　　“Don’t create any more big trouble!”

　　Ao Yi turned his head to look at one side, still looking unresigned.

　　However, he was only 10 years old, after all. Even though he had received many years of ‘egg education’, he had truly been born for 10 years.

　　The old turtle kept persuading him at the side, and Ao Yi gradually hesitated.

　　“Does this great immortal have any methods to become a Saint?”

　　“That is for sure!”

　　The Turtle Immortal seized the opportunity and started telling Ao Yi about how impressive this great immortal was, and how the Grandmaster of Heaven liked him. However, he was rather low-profile and did not reveal his talents outside.

　　Soon, the Turtle Immortal sighed and sent a voice transmission to Ao Yi.

　　“Your Majesty, I can see what you’re trying to do. However, this isn’t as simple as you think it is. You will not obtain a good outcome by just tormenting yourself.

　　“Flaunting is just like a dream. It becomes frozen after you wake up from the dream. Nobody is willing to wake up from it.

　　“You have to empathize with His Majesty. He is the person sitting at the highest seat in the dragon race, so he cannot do anything easily. Otherwise, the place will be in danger.”

　　Ao Yi pondered and then gradually nodded his head.

　　‘In short, I can now roam around the huge Primordial World at will outside the Dragon Palace.’

　　To become a disciple of the great immortal, he still had to rely on his status as the prince of the Dragon Palace. How could he get rid of the embarrassment of the Dragon Palace?

　　Which of the few other disciples of the Dragon Palace could become a disciple of a great immortal?

　　What he needed to search was the way out for the dragon race, and not the way out for himself, the Second Prince of the East Ocean’s Dragon Palace!

　　He had to first secure this Turtle immortal. He would talk about any other things someday in the future.

　　In the roaring ocean breeze, Ao Yi gradually revealed a smile on his face, showing the ‘innocence’ that was just like his own age. That Turtle Immortal was gradually relieved.

　　…

　　Deep in the dense forest of the Heaven-Breaking Peak in the Immortal Du Sect at the Nine Jiu Immortals’ cultivation ground.

　　Jiu Jiu’s huge gourd drifted over from the Little Qiong Peak’s direction. As if she had no energy, she walked back to her own house in a crestfallen manner. She slowly sat down on the wooden steps in front of the house and slowly leaned down.

　　She lay down softly, just like a melting clay figurine, hugging her gourd and lying there for a long while.

　　“I’m so bored. It has only been three months since Little Shoushou entered seclusion. Why do I feel that it seems more than three years? Nobody is playing with me…”

　　“Even Senior Sister is accompanied by Senior Brother, while he goes to accompany someone else.

　　“After Big Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Sister and Fifth Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Sister and Seventh Senior Brother, it should be time for Eighth Senior Brother to be with Ninth Junior Sister. I didn’t expect Eighth Senior Brother to follow in Third Senior Sister’s steps and go out of the Heaven-Breaking Peak…

　　“As the Ninth Junior Sister with a bitter fate, I have to be lonely without anyone accompanying me…

　　“I’m even Master’s final disciple. Ugh…”

　　The windows of the house next door were pushed open, looking radiant. Jiu Shi, who had seemed to be hundreds of years younger recently, looked over at this side. After hearing Jiu Jiu harping on something, she could not help laughing.

　　Jiu Shi drifted out from the window, wearing a rainbow-colored dress like a fairy in a painting, and landed beside Jiu Jiu. She sat on the wooden steps and pinched Jiu Jiu’s nose.

　　“Senior Sister.” Jiu Jiu hugged Jiu Shi and closed her eyes before she howled in grief, “Accompany me to the Little Qiong Peak! I want to play Fight the Great God! I want to play Immortal Life Simulation!”

　　Jiu Shi suddenly laughed softly and patted her little junior sister’s head. “Foolish Junior Sister, how can I go to the Little Qiong Peak?”

　　“Huh? Why not, Senior Sister?”

　　“Won’t you feel embarrassed if I go there?”

　　“What should I be embarrassed about?”

　　Jiu Jiu cranked her head. “Fourth Senior Sister, did you misunderstand something? I’m just having an aunt-nephew relationship with Little Shoushou.”

　　“Oh? Is that so?”

　　Jiu Shi smiled with her eyes full of aggression.

　　Jiu Jiu could not help but blink and shrink her neck. “Isn’t… that so?”

　　“Right. A martial aunt and martial nephew perform alchemy and set up array formations every day, are with each other for the whole day, and are very intimate.”

　　“What intimate! He is sick!”

　　Jiu Shi froze and quickly asked, “What illness does he have? Martial Nephew Changshou has an unmentionable disease? That is a huge problem.”

　　“It’s not an unmentionable disease. Little Shoushou cannot be touched by any woman besides his junior sister. Otherwise, he would twitch all over.”

　　Jiu Jiu said with a smile, “He watched his junior sister grow up, so he is fine with her. He’s also fine with me if it’s just touching fists or high-five.”

　　Jiu Shi hugged her arms and muttered to herself before suddenly saying, “How did this illness come about? Can you tell me in detail?”

　　“When I brought Little Shoushou to the North Continent the last time…”

　　A moment later, Jiu Shi hugged her Ninth Junior Sister and laughed. She said something to Jiu Jiu, which made the latter be at a loss. Then, she could not help but rest her forehead on her hand.

　　“This brat actually dared to deceive me!”

　　“Calm down, Little Jiu. Such a man who preserves his chastity is a treasure rarely seen in the world. Don’t miss the opportunity.”

　　Jiu Jiu was suddenly embarrassed and stamped her feet in anger. “Senior Sister, what are you talking about! How I can be with him!

　　“Oh my, I’m going back to seclusion!”

　　“Aren’t you going to be a guard at the Priming Meet after a few days?”

　　“Oh, that’s right… Can’t I enter seclusion for a few days?”

　　Jiu Jiu got away and went to her house. Jiu Shi laughed softly and drifted after her.

　　“Little Jiu, you don’t have to be shy in front of me. I’ll teach you how to dress and apply makeup first…”

　　“Eh, I don’t want to.”

　　“Come on! Let me have a look at your current figure.”

　　“Fourth Senior Sister, don’t touch me anyhow… This is annoying! Aiya!”

　　As the sun set in the west, the laughter of the two fairies drifted here and there nearby.

　　In the house next door, a short Daoist, who looked deeply in trouble and haggard, shook his head and activated the array outside Jiu Jiu’s house.

　　Then, he looked at the complete dine-and-dash meal on the table in front, and the corners of his mouth could not help but twitch.

　　Jiu Jiu was still going to be a guard at the Priming Meet in the North Continent this time because there had been a small problem the other time. This time, the sect had sent a Perfected Immortal to go with her.

　　Only two people were going to the North Continent.

　　On the day of the Priming Meet, the disciple representative Youqin Xuanya, whose reputation had recently surged more and more, carried her own huge sword on her back and was wearing a fiery-red dress. She appeared at the venue on time.

　　However, when everyone had split into teams, she did not join in the practice. Instead, she turned and went back to her cave abode for seclusion.

　　Thus, the two disciples heading to the North Continent received superb treatment of having secret guards exclusive for a Perfected Immortal.

　　Going to and from the North Continent took several months. In the few months after returning, Jiu Jiu had kept remembering what her Fourth Senior Sister had told her previously.

　　Gradually, Jiu Jiu, who had thought that she had no other feelings for Li Changshou besides being purely playmates, started to immerse in self-doubt.

　　Could it be that she had feelings for Little Changshou and she didn’t know about that?

　　That was impossible. Although having a martial aunt-martial nephew relationship was a little exciting, she had always been taking care of Little Changshou as her junior. However, she had been careless and had been fed by him…

　　As Jiu Jiu thought more about this, she felt so confused that she could not concentrate while meditating.

　　Another few months had passed again. When the paper crane, which brought the message that Li Changshou wanted to invite her for alchemy, landed in her hand, Jiu Jiu jumped in joy.

　　Then, she froze.

　　“My heart couldn’t have been really moved by a martial nephew, who is only around 100 years old, right?”

　　‘There are some words that you will only know after asking.’

　　Fourth Senior Sister’s laughter was still winding around her ear. Jiu Jiu sat on the bed and muttered to herself before she lifted her hand to smash the bed board.

　　‘What are you afraid of? Just go ask him!’

　　Jiu Jiu changed into a clean hemp garment, sat on the huge gourd, and rushed to the Little Qiong Peak.

　　This time, Li Changshou wanted to refine poisonous pills so that he could be more prepared when he went out for the Tribulation Transcendence.

　　By the time Jiu Jiu rushed over, Li Changshou had prepared various kinds of poisonous herbs and put himself in layers of protective equipment.

　　After Jiu Jiu had worn such a cumbersome ‘protective suit’ for the first time, she had never heeded his advice to wear it for the second time.

　　This made Li Changshou extra careful in controlling the poisonous pills’ toxin circulation when he was refining pills each time, lest he accidentally provided immortal powers for his martial aunt.

　　During alchemy, the two of them were talking endlessly just like before.

　　However, Jiu Jiu was still thinking about what her Fourth Senior Sister had said. Despite the 32-hours alchemy and her trying to ask dozens of times, she could not find the appropriate context.

　　‘It’s just one sentence. Why is it so hard to ask?

　　‘I couldn’t have…

　　‘How is that possible? Am I someone who goes for someone younger? Ask him, and everything will be fine!’

　　Jiu Jiu took a deep breath and lifted her hand to tidy up her hair ends at the side of her ear while looking at Li Changshou, who was concentrating at the side.

　　With her utmost effort, she asked in the weakest tone, “How… did I… perform during the alchemy this time?”

　　“You’re doing well as usual,” Li Changshou answered with a laugh in his suit. “Martial Aunt, your immortal powers are indeed very helpful.”

　　The poisonous pills trembled slightly, and Li Changshou immediately adjusted the pill effect.

　　Jiu Jiu blinked her eyes and continued to adjust her voice.

　　“Then Martial Nephew Changshou… what do you… think of me…”

　　During the crucial moment for the pill formation, Li Changshou, who was concentrating on controlling the properties of the poisonous pills, could not hear her properly since he was wearing too many anti-poison Dharma artifacts and Jiu Jiu had spoken too softly. He only heard ‘Martial Nephew’ and ‘what’.

　　However, the topic they had always been discussing seemed to be…

　　Li Changshou nodded lightly and replied with a smile without turning back, “Very much and very stable. What is even rarer is that it is pure, without any impurities.”

　　Li Changshou frowned and stared at the poisonous pills that were going to form soon in the furnace. He added, “If only I could also have[1] it.”

　　Jiu Jiu opened her mouth slightly—she was petrified!

　　She pointed at Li Changshou with a trembling finger.

　　“Do… Do you know what you’re saying?”

　　Li Changshou answered, “What’s wrong? Did I say anything wrong?”

　　‘Did I say anything wrong!

　　‘Very strong, and what is even rarer is that it is pure, to the point without any impurities.

　　‘If I could only have it…’

　　Who was so disgraceful like that?

　　Jiu Jiu’s slightly round face instantly blushed red from her neck downward. Wisps of white smoke seeped through her forehead.

　　She took half a step back and wanted to say something, but her voice was trembling. She turned around and dashed to the distance. After two steps, she rushed into the air and flew toward the Heaven-Breaking Peak…

　　“Eh?”

　　Li Changshou was disturbed by the sound of the wind and turned around to look in confusion.

　　‘She left? She’s not going to take her wine reward today?’

　　Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu’s immortal powers were indeed very stable, powerful, and pure. Otherwise, she could not have achieved pill formation in her first furnace of pills and saved his eight other materials!

　　He wished he could have such genuine immortal powers like Martial Aunt Jiu. However, he was going to go through the Tribulation Transcendence soon.

　　‘Um, Martial Aunt wouldn’t have misunderstood anything, right?’ Li Changshou quickly reacted. ‘Nevermind. Concentrate and prepare for pill formation!’

　　He could just explain these trivial matters later on.

　　In between the group of mountain peaks in the Immortal Du Sect…

　　Jiu Jiu, who sat and flew on the huge gourd, took the wine gourd on her waist and raised her head before making gulping sounds. Then, she hit the forest halfway up the mountains on the Heaven-Breaking Peak just like an arrow taking off, causing the entire forest to shake lightly and birds flying everywhere…

　　A little fairy in a hemp garment was lying on the fallen leaves of the thick growth of grass under the tree in the forest. She covered her face with her pair of delicate hands and breathed heavily.

　　But soon, she heaved a sigh of relief. Her delicate face was flushed red. One of her fair arms covered her forehead while the other was lifted to block the sunlight from the gaps in the treetop.

　　“Very pure…

　　“Pooh! What am I talking about? Seriously!”

　　She took out… those brightly-colored immortal dresses, which her Fifth Senior Brother had given and Fourth Senior Sister had made for her, from the storage sack.

　　“What am I thinking about again? He’s my martial nephew!”

　　Jiu Jiu quickly threw the storage sack. Not long after that, she turned to look at it.

　　It was not that she could not give it a try. She just would not let anyone else see…

　　[1] It can also mean be pregnant in this context.